EPL Spotlight: Micki to finally spread his wings?

MATCH TO WATCH: Chelsea v Tottenham (Sunday, Nov 27, 1.30am)

They might be unbeaten in the Premier League, but Spurs' season is hanging in the balance.

Raw from their unceremonious Champions League exit, the Lilywhites must quickly pick up the pieces for a derby against league leaders Chelsea.

Spurs have just the one win over an abject West Ham last week in their past six league games - nine if you include the Champions League and EFL Cup.

Meanwhile, the Blues certainly won't be keen on letting go of the top spot they so recently acquired.

Antonio Conte's side is certainly in full flow and would love to draw the curtain on their neighbours' unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge.

And if the title race isn't enough motivation, both sides clearly hate each others' guts.

 

 

This should be a cracker.

MANAGER TO WATCH: Mauricio Pochettino (Chelsea v TOTTENHAM, Sunday)

Up till now, he has enjoyed a pretty easy life in England.

With Spurs in a rut and dumped out of the Champions League, the Argentinean now has faces the first major test of his Spurs reign as the north Londoners attempt to arrest their poor run of form.

A few months ago, Sir Alex Ferguson said Spurs had the best manager in the Premier League in the shape of Pochettino.

The man now has to prove the legendary Scot right.

 

 

PLAYER TO WATCH: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United v West Ham, Monday, 12.30am)

PHOTO: REUTERS

He would have wanted to forget the last time he started a match at Old Trafford against a team in light blue.

But instead, Henrikh Mkhitaryan looks to have played his way out of the cold and into his manager's plans against West Ham after a fine display against Feyenoord in the Europa League.

After the match that United won 4-0, Jose Mourinho said of the Armenian: "This performance gives him the right to believe that he can play the next match again and he needs to replicate this kind of performance in the Premier League with more physicality and more aggression."

He might have been made to wait since that disastrous first start against Manchester City, but if Mkhitaryan follows up the Feyenoord game with another outstanding performance against West Ham, Mourinho is going to have a hard time benching the ex-Borussia Dortmund man again.

 

 

TEAM TO WATCH: Manchester United (v West Ham, Monday)

PHOTO: REUTERS

Of course, Mkhitaryan isn't the only one giving Mourinho a selection headache following the match against Feyenoord.

Wayne Rooney also turned in a vintage performance as he linked up well with United's front four to score the opener and set up Juan Mata for the second.

In midfield, Michael Carrick continued to roll back the years as he dictated the Red Devils' play.

Even Sergio Romero put in a decent performance with an eye-catching double save in the first half.

All of this with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Ander Herrera held in reserve on the bench.

With so many positives from a dominant performance, it will be interesting to see how Mourinho changes things up for a West Ham side that have failed to capture the heights of their performances last season.

 

 

UNDERDOG TO WATCH: Sunderland (v Liverpool, Saturday, 11.30pm)

The Black Cats are certainly smiling after two wins in a row. PHOTO: REUTERS

It's quite amazing as to how things change really quickly in the relegation dogfight with a win or two.

Just ask Sunderland, who now find themselves off the foot of the table thanks to two consecutive wins.

A tough match at Anfield - a ground where David Moyes has never won at - await, but at least the Black Cats will take on Liverpool with a much-improved state of mind.